Safety of EndoAnchors in real-world use: A report from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database

Objectives

A hostile proximal neck anatomy is the most common cause of abdominal aorta endovascular aneurysm repair failure leading to a higher risk of device migration, proximal type I endoleak, and subsequent open surgical repair. Endostapling is a technique to attain better fixation of the endograft to the aortic wall, and the only available device in the USA is Aptus Heli-FX EndoAnchor system (Medtronic Vascular, Santa Rosa, CA, USA). Preliminary data have shown efficacy and safety of its use, and the aim of this study is to assess device-related adverse events in real-world clinical use.

Methods

We quarried data from the publicly available Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database to identify Aptus Heli-FX EndoAnchor system-related adverse reports in endovascular aneurysm repair since FDA approval till August 31, 2017. An estimate of total devices implanted in the United States was quoted around 7,000 (Medtronic marketing internal data).

Results

Our query identified 229 separate reports, of which there were 85 adverse events (1.2% of the estimated EndoAnchor systems used). The most common adverse events were device dislodgement/fracture (65) and applicator malfunction (20).

Conclusion

In early post-FDA approval use in a real-world setting, the EndoAnchor system is associated with a low rate of adverse events. Device dislodgement and embolization remain the most common adverse events. With increasing use of these devices in more difficult anatomy, careful patient selection and careful attention to technique may help to reduce these events even further.

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Repair of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm with Use of Local Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is typically treated surgically. No commercially available device has been specifically designed for endovascular ATAA repair, and currently, multiple anatomic and technical challenges affect its feasibility. Previously, such repairs have been performed with the patients under general anesthesia. We describe a novel, minimally invasive approach to endovascular repair of ATAA, involving local anesthesia, conscious sedation, and 24-hour hospitalization. Two consecutive male patients (ages, 79 and 54 yr) who had comorbidities underwent percutaneous transfemoral endovascular ATAA repair with use of commercially available endografts. Patient 1 had a saccular aneurysm, and Patient 2 had a pseudoaneurysm consequent to recent surgical ATAA repair. The patients were discharged from the hospital 24 hours after technically successful, uncomplicated procedures. At 2 months, computed tomograms showed no endoleak or stent-graft migration. Our experience shows that minimally invasive endovascular ATAA repair is feasible for selected high-risk patients. We describe the procedure, access and closure devices, and challenges associated with this approach.

Does single-valve surgery cause ischemia?

Isolated valve surgery is associated with a small incidence of postoperative PCI. PCI after single-valve surgery is associated with elevated mortality and morbidity risk. Possible mechanisms for cardiac ischemia include iatrogenic causes (such as suture-related or air embolism), intimal hyperplasia, and immunologic reaction to the valve prosthesis.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: It's not like the aortic valve

The Edwards Sapien S3 demonstrated clinical and technical feasibility in this cohort undergoing percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation. Traversing the tricuspid apparatus with an unsheathed delivery system continues to pose a risk for tricuspid valve injury. Future design innovations need to accommodate for large outflow tracts without adjacent aortic or coronary compression and allow for safe device delivery with minimal trauma to the tricuspid apparatus.

Use of an AFX aortic cuff in the endovascular treatment of aortocaval fistula secondary to abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm

Aortocaval fistula (ACF) is rare and lethal and can be either primary (due to an enlarged abdominal aortic aneurysm) or secondary (iatrogenic or secondary to abdominal surgery) in origin. We describe a case of an ACF secondary to a ruptured abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm that we successfully treated with a planned endovascular approach using an AFX aortic cuff on both the arterial and venous sides.

Plug vs. suture: Who wins in large bore access closure?

Large Bore Access in increasingly common and surgical closure used to be the gold standard for closure. Novel less invasive closure devices such as the suture based vascular devices offer a safe alternative to surgery. Recent developments provide us with MANTA (Essential Medical Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania) a vascular closure device that seems to be as safe and associated with less bleeding. Certain genetic polymorphisms might account for HoTPR.

Chronic total occlusion: Does anti-platelet choice impact outcomes?

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is associated with worse outcomes compared to non CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CTO might be associated with vasomotor dysfunction Ticagrelor is a novel P2Y12 inhibitor that increases local adenosine The TIGER-BVS trial plans to assess the impact of using ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel on vasomotor activity and outcomes after successful CTO PCI.

Perioperative Outcomes From the Prospective Multicenter Least Invasive Fast-Track EVAR (LIFE) Registry

Purpose: To determine the feasibility, perioperative resource utilization, and safety of a fast-track endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) protocol in well-selected patients. Methods: Between October 2014 and May 2016, the LIFE (Least Invasive Fast-track EVAR) registry ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02224794) enrolled 250 patients (mean age 73±8 years; 208 men) in a fast-track EVAR protocol comprised of bilateral percutaneous access using the 14-F Ovation stent-graft, no general anesthesia, no intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and next-day discharge. The primary endpoint was major adverse events (MAE) through 30 days. The target performance goal for the MAE endpoint was 10.4%. Results: Vascular access, stent-graft delivery, and stent-graft deployment success were 100%. A total of 216 (86%) patients completed all elements of the fast-track EVAR protocol. Completion of individual elements was 98% for general anesthesia avoidance, 97% for bilateral percutaneous access, 96% for ICU avoidance, and 92% for next-day discharge. Perioperative outcomes included mean procedure time of 88 minutes, median blood loss of 50 mL, early oral nutrition (median 6 hours), early mobilization (median 8 hours), and short hospitalization (median 26 hours). Fast-track EVAR completers had shorter procedure time (p<0.001), less blood loss (p=0.04), faster return to oral nutrition (p<0.001) and ambulation (p<0.01), and shorter hospital stay (p<0.001). With 241 (96%) of the 250 patients returning for the 30-day follow-up, the MAE incidence was 0.4% (90% CI 0.1% to 1.8%), significantly less than the 10.4% performance goal (p<0.001). No aneurysm rupture, conversion to surgery, or aneurysm-related secondary procedure was reported. There were no type III endoleaks and 1 (0.4%) type I endoleak. Iliac limb occlusion was identified in 2 (0.8%) patients. The 30-day hospital readmission rate was 1.6% overall. Conclusion: A fast-track EVAR protocol was feasible in well-selected patients and resulted in efficient perioperative resource utilization with excellent safety and effectiveness.

Recurrent coarctation of aorta after Norwood operation in single ventricle patients; the case of the missing ideal stent

Recurrent coarctation postoperative Norwood is poorly tolerated in single ventricle patients. Although transcatheter balloon angioplasty is considered first line, it often leads to inadequate or non-durable relief of obstruction. Transcatheter stent implantation provides excellent relief of obstruction but necessitates staged redilation to account for somatic growth in children. Stent technology, delivery systems, and procedural techniques will need to evolve to obviate reported adverse events mainly due to patient size.

Laser-Assisted Transgraft Embolization: A Technique for the Treatment of Type II Endoleaks

A transgraft embolization (TGE) technique was performed in a patient to treat a type II endoleak. Using a transfemoral arterial approach, the endograft was punctured using a coronary laser catheter aimed toward the type II endoleak nidus, which was treated with Onyx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota). TGE resulted in successful embolization, as demonstrated on 1-year follow-up CT angiography, which showed complete elimination of the type II endoleak and shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac. TGE is an alternative to transarterial embolization, translumbar embolization, and transcaval embolization.

Drug-coated balloons: "Do they still have a role in treating coronary artery disease?"

Small vessels with coronary artery disease (CAD) are at high risk of restenosis, despite the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs). Drug-coated balloon (DCB) therapy offers a viable alternative to DESs for the management of small vessel CAD. The literature regarding the use of DCBs in lieu of the newer generation DESs to treat small vessel CAD is controversial.

Melody valve within a dysfunctional freestyle bioprosthesis: Yes, you can fit a round peg in a calcified hole

Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) within a failed bioprosthetic valve is safe and effective Coronary artery compression is a potential risk, requiring careful preimplantation balloon dilation testing Prestenting is required for TPVI in stentless conduits Improvements in right ventricular volume, pressure, pulmonary stenosis, and regurgitation can be maintained in the intermediate term Long-term risk for Melody valve endocarditis and valve dysfunction necessitates careful monitoring.